JUMADA ALTHANI 11, 1441 AH WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020 28 Pages Max 21º Min 05º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 18053 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Lebanon daily suspends print AirAsia’s Tony Fernandes steps Pakistan to buy more Malaysia N Africa football stadiums 7 edition over economic crisis 11 aside amid Airbus bribery probe 24 palm oil after India withdrawal 26 double as political arenas Health minister assures Kuwait free of deadly new coronavirus MPs demand evacuation of Kuwaitis as toll in China jumps, HK records first death By B Izzak and Agencies Only the United Arab Emirates in the GCC states has announced five confirmed cases of coronavirus, all KUWAIT: Health Minister Sheikh Dr Basel Al-Sabah affecting Chinese nationals who arrived from Wuhan, said yesterday the ministry has taken all necessary pre- the epicenter of the disease. The minister said the GCC cautionary measures against the spread of the deadly health council has recommended banning travel to new coronavirus that has so far killed 425 in China and China except in extremely necessary cases, and also infected over 20,000. The minister said Kuwait has not called for the evacuation of Gulf diplomats and their discovered any case, and any suspected case discov- families from China. ered at the airport or other entry points will be quaran- He said that passengers arriving from countries tined and carefully examined in isolation. where coronavirus cases have been detected are care- Sheikh Basel said an emergency plan has been pre- fully examined and those found free of infection will be pared by the contingency committee at the ministry kept under precautionary observation for 14 days. The and that all directors of hospitals have been informed of minister said that if thermal detectors at the airport find the necessary guidelines to face the disease. He said symptoms of the disease in anyone, the person will be thermal examination of arrivals from China will contin- immediately taken to hospital and quarantined to exam- ue, adding that the ministry has called for a Gulf health ine the type of infection. meeting to discuss coordination against the disease. Continued on Page 24 KUWAIT: MPs Safa Al-Hashem and Khalil Abul during a session at the National Assembly yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat country as a factor of regional stability and strengthens Greece to send Patriot our ties to Saudi Arabia,” Petsas said, adding that talks on the move began in October. He did not give a date for the deployment. The US, Britain and France are part missiles to Saudi; Iran of the same initiative and Italy is likely to join, the spokesman said. wants to resolve issues The announcement came as Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was on a Middle East tour for invest- ATHENS: Greece will send some of its Patriot defense ment talks with the governments of Saudi Arabia and the missiles to Saudi Arabia under a program involving the United Arab Emirates. He visited Riyadh on Monday and US, Britain and France, the government spokesman said was in Abu Dhabi yesterday. “As a defensive system, this yesterday. Athens will deploy the missiles at Saudi cost constitutes no threat to other countries in the area,” “to protect critical energy infrastructure”, government Petsas said. Earlier this week Petsas said that “around 130 spokesman Stelios Petsas told reporters. “The deploy- personnel” would accompany the missiles. ment contributes to energy security, promotes our Continued on Page 24 international developments because of a need for EU rejects Trump unanimity among its 27 members, had said last week that it needed to study the Trump plan before it would give its verdict. It made its conclusions public plan; Sudan ‘stab yesterday in a statement from EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. “To build a just and lasting peace, the in back’ slammed unresolved final status issues must be decided through direct negotiations between both parties,” BRUSSELS/KHARTOUM: The European Union Borrell said, noting the issues of the borders of a rejected parts of the new US peace plan for the Palestinian state and the final status of Jerusalem Middle East yesterday, saying the plan broke with were among those still in dispute. “internationally agreed parameters”, and any Israeli “The US initiative, as presented on 28 January, annexation of Palestinian land would be subject to departs from these internationally agreed parame- challenge. President Donald Trump’s plan, announced ters,” Borrell said. Steps by Israel to annex Palestinian last week, was warmly welcomed by Israel and territory, “if implemented, could not pass unchal- rejected outright by the Palestinians. It would give lenged,” Borrell said. EU policy in the Middle East Israel most of what it has sought during decades of tends to be cautious, as the bloc includes members conflict, including nearly all Palestinian land on which with varying degrees of sympathy towards the it has built settlements. Palestinians and Israel. Some EU members have The EU, which often takes time to respond to Continued on Page 24 “tight race with bunched up candidates”. But Joe Rospars, Dems turn sights chief strategist for Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, chided the other candidates, tweeting that “any campaign saying they won or putting out incomplete on New Hampshire numbers is contributing to the chaos and misinformation”. The Iowa Democratic Party said precinct results after Iowa fiasco were still coming in and blamed the delay on an app that was reporting only partial data. “While our plan is MANCHESTER, New Hampshire: Democratic candi- to release results as soon as possible today, our ulti- dates were anxiously awaiting results from the Iowa cau- mate goal is to ensure that the integrity and accuracy cuses yesterday after technical glitches plunged the kick- of the process continues to be upheld,” it said in a off vote of the US presidential nominating contest into statement. “We have every indication that our systems chaos, drawing the mockery of President Donald Trump. were secure and there was not a cyber security intru- Pete Buttigieg, the 38-year-old former mayor of South sion,” it added. Bend, Indiana, claimed victory although the Iowa Buttigieg, who is battling Biden for the moderate Democratic Party had not yet released any official results, wing of the party, said that based on an internal tally and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders also declared that he it was a “clear victory for this campaign”. “We were had done “very, very well”. able to demonstrate both the winning message and Former vice president Joe Biden’s campaign for its part the winning organization,” Buttigieg said in an inter- said that although it had “zero official data” so far it view with MSNBC. believed it had won its “fair share” of the vote and it was a Continued on Page 24 2 Local Wednesday, February 5, 2020 Kuwait Crown Prince receives sheikhs at Bayan Palace Amir offers condolence over death of ex-Kenyan President KUWAIT: His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with His Highness Sheikh His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Sheikh Dr Ibrahim Al-Duaij Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. — KUNA photos Al-Sabah. KUWAIT: His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Highness the Crown Prince also received Sheikh lences to President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al- Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received yes- Dr Ibrahim Al-Duaij Al-Sabah. In other news, His expressing his deepest condolences and sorrow Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the terday at Bayan Palace His Highness Sheikh Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- over the death of former Kenyan President Daniel Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. His Jaber Al-Sabah sent yesterday a cable of condo- arap Moi, wishing his family patience and solace. Al-Sabah sent similar cables. — KUNA Zain strategic sponsor of Kuwait Tech Expo 2020 KUWAIT: Zain, the leading digital service provider in Kuwait, announced its strategic sponsorship of Kuwait Tech Expo 2020, the biggest technology event of its kind in Kuwait. The expo runs from 6-9 February at Kuwait International Fairground in Mishref, Hall 6, with the presence of the biggest global and local companies from the tech and telecom sectors as well as government entities. Zain’s strategic support to the event comes to affirm its commitment in being present at the various activities and programs that con- tribute to pushing the national economy wheel and achieve the country’s developmental DUBAI: Officials attend a press conference yesterday to announce details of Kuwait goals, especially those centered around tech- Pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020. — KUNA photos nology and telecommunications. As the world goes through comprehensive digital transfor- mation, Zain expressed its commitment and readiness to be a main contributing partner in progressing Kuwait’s digital transformation journey. Through its dedicated booth at Kuwait Tech Expo, Zain will showcase its capabilities as an active partner in empowering a smart life, a safe community, and an efficient busi- ness sector by offering the most advanced services and solutions. This will include Zain company in taking part in the country’s vari- B2B show that offers companies the opportu- LIFE’s latest solutions for smart homes, ous developmental projects that contribute to nity to showcase their latest products and Fintech services, Zain Business solutions for the nation’s further progress. This is especially applications, paving the way to discuss and large businesses and SMEs, as well as the lat- true as Zain represents the private sector that exchange ideas and information about the est innovations and most advanced services it is considered a strategic and key partner in telecommunications and technology industry’s offers via its Zain Drone subsidiary.